Fragrance Free Solution: Simple beauty products

Simple is a new fragrance free line of products. They offer facial wipes, cleansers, and moisturizer. I have found it at Target, CVS and my local grocery store. I have been using the wipes to remove my makeup nightly and really like them.  Simple calls themselves the “Sensitive Skin Experts”. I may not have sensitive skin but I do have a sensitive head that is prone to migraine headaches due to perfumes. So thank you “Simple” for offering a line of Fragrance Free products!

“Simple, Sensitive Skin Experts”  facial products are Fragrance Free.

Fragrance Free Solution: UV light pocket purifier for cleaning without chemicals

I have heard of UV light used  in industrial situations like disinfecting hospitals and  air filter systems on public transportation like buses. Now a company is offering it as a consumer product.

Pocket Purifier by Purely Products

Purely Products created the pocket purifier. It is a small device that uses UV-C light to destroy germs. It is recommended for use on hard surfaces like countertops, children’s toys,  cutting boards, computer keyboards, and cell phones. They do warn about exposing the light to your eyes, this can be harmful. They also say it should not be used on your skin.

For someone like me who has health issues with fragrances and most cleaning products, this may be worth $20. I like the concept of being able to easily disinfect my keyboard and cell phone too.

Here is the link to their website if you would like to purchase or get more info.

http://www.purelyproducts.com/Products/ProductDetail/tabid/77/ProductID/1/Default.aspx

If you have experience with this product or have any other fragrance free solution, please leave a comment.

Top 5 easy, cheap, & natural ways to scent your home

Why spend money on expensive air fresheners when what you need to make your home smell super fresh is in your pantry. Here is our top five suggestions. If you have some other good home remedies for scenting your house, please leave a comment.

1. Add a drop of Vanilla Extract in a piece of aluminum foil and put in a warm oven. Instant smell of home-baked cookies!
2. Put citrus peels in your garbage disposal and run it.
3. Simmer cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves and a little water in a pot.
4. Set whole vanilla beans or tea bags into drawers to rid musty odors.
5. Take essential oils like rose or lavender, combine with water in a spray bottle and  mist.

Fragrance Free Solution: Facial Cleanser

Smellinc awards Cetaphil a halo for its fragrance free facial cleanser

Smellinc loves Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser which is their fragrance free version.  It’s easy to find at most popular retailers and they even make trial size versions which are great for travel. Make sure you buy “Gentle Skin Cleanser” which is scent free.  The “Daily Facial Cleanser” does have a masking fragrance. If you have found another good fragrance free facial cleanser please leave a comment and share with us.

Fragrance Free Solution: Moisturizers

 

Moisturizers without fragrance receive a halo from Smellinc

Moisturizers seem to have a growing selection of fragrance free products. Aveeno made by Johnson & Johnson makes a number of fragrance free products including  body cream and an intense relief overnight cream. Aveeno is sold just about everywhere and can be found in travel size packaging as well. Bliss makes a “naked” version of their body butter maximum moisture cream which is sold at Sephora stores. (Good luck navigating through those one of those stores without becoming overwhelmed by perfume. I’d purchase it online) Eucerin also offers a daily moisturizer called “calming creme” which does not have fragrance. I recently purchased a trial version at CVS.  If you know of any other moisturizers that do not contain fragrance and are worthy of sharing please comment.

Fragrance Free Solution: Bar Soap

Unilever’s Dove Sensitive Skin bar soap is fragrance-free and I love it. This is the only fragrance-free bar of soap I can reliably find at most popular retailers. They even make this in trial size bars for traveling.

Smellinc gives Halo to Dove Sensitive Skin Bar Soap

Fragrance Free Solution: Facial Moisturizer & Sunscreen

Smellinc. blog places a halo over Oil of Olay for their fragrance free products

The Oil of Olay line makes many fragrance free offerings. I use this moisturizer/sunscreen daily. Olay Complete has an SPF of 30 and contains no fragrance.  I can find this Proctor & Gamble product at most major retailers. Another good facial moisturizer line for those of us with fragrance sensitivities is Aveeno. Aveeno, which is a Johnson & Johnson product, is also readily available at most stores.

If you have a favorite fragrance free moisturizer skin product please share.

Fragrance Free Depression: Sure Max Deodorant Discontinued

This was going to be a Fragrance Free Solution about my favorite scent free deodorant…. now I’m depressed because I have discovered that it has been discontinued.

Finding a true fragrance free deodorant is not so easy. See my previous post about masking fragrances in deodorants labeled “unscented”…  This was my favorite deodorant. It was not easy to find. I bought it in bulk when I could find it. Luckily I still have 3 boxes left. They will probably expire before I get to use them all.

This is so sad. I just want a deodorant that won’t cause me to have migraine headaches. Every 2 to 3 years I have to hunt for new deodorant that is fragrance free. I find one I’m happy with and they either discontinue it or add a masking fragrance to it. I’ve tried some brand’s like Tom’s all natural, but I didn’t like the way it felt. So now I will start scouring the aisles again in the drug stores looking for that elusive non smelly solid deodorant. If you have any good leads please pass them along.

UPDATE   July 25, 2010: Regular Unscented Sure has fragrance listed under inactive ingredients. I will not be trying it. I did find two products at my local grocery store which were truly fragrance free…. Dove ultimate sensitive care fragrance free and Arrid XX extra extra dry unscented solid. I have purchased both and will be trying them out.

Fragrance Free Solution: Laundry Detergents

Tide's Fragrance Free Laundry Detergent given a halo by Smellinc. Blog

If you have fragrance sensitivities like me, laundry can be a real pain. It is comforting to know that many companies now are creating and mass producing fragrance free versions of laundry detergents. Procter & Gamble’s “Tide Free” has been available for years and can be found in most retailers. I’ve been a loyal fan since college. I have noticed that more options are becoming readily available. Sun Product’s “All Free & Clear” is being heavily advertised and seems to be available at most shops. They boast #1 recommendation by dermatologists for sensitive skin and have been buying TV ads. Even Costco’s brand Kirkland has a fragrance free version of laundry detergent. Last time I checked Costco, it saves you 30 cents to forgo the smelly stuff and switch to their fragrance free version. If you want a greener alternative both Seventh Generation and Method  sell fragrance free laundry detergent. I see them often in Target and my supermarket. For years, I only remember having one option which was Tide Free. I’m very pleased that there are options now at most major retailers.

For those of you who don’t use fragrance free versions, please consider it. Do you really want multiple scents clashing? All the other products you use in a day colliding with laundry scents as well. Whether you believe that fragrances can be harmful to your health or not, for some of us, it is. And for those of us who get headaches, asthma attacks or allergic reactions to fragrances we appreciate any effort you make to reduce our exposure to them.

UPDATE: Since I posted this I have noticed quite a few more options…. Downy Free & Sensitive, Clorox Green Work’s Natural Free & Clear, Proctor & Gamble’s Cheer Free & Gentle, Arm & Hammer Essentials Free of Perfumes and Dyes, Mrs. Meyer’s Scent Free and even Southeast grocery store Publix has a Free & Clear generic offering. This is a really good trend.

Wired Mag: What’s Inside Hugo Boss Cologne?

I love WIRED magazine and the What’s Inside article, while entertaining, also makes me think twice about our consumption. The “Valium for Rats, Viagra for Mice” is a must read. Click this link to see the page from the magazine.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/11/st_whatsinside_hugoboss/

I get headaches from fragrances and am searching for the chemical culprit to my migraines. It’s so hard to find out the ingredients in these fragrances to attempt to troubleshoot my issue. I am curious how WIRED Magazine gets the information for these articles. Do the companies willingly give it up, knowing that a free mention in a hip magazine is worth it? Even if the mention makes people think about the chemicals that are used and ponder how those chemicals could affect them.

Please share your thoughts after you read this article.